Theriot returns to Wrigley hoping to shed villian's role

Former Cubs second baseman Ryan Theriot returns to Wrigley Field, where he was booed last year for saying he was finally “on the right side” of the Cubs-Cardinals rivalry.

Now that Theriot is with San Francisco, he’s hoping he’ll get a different reception.

“This is home, this is where I had my first taste of the big leagues, two division championships here,” he said. “You always enjoy coming back to your first club for sure.”

Will they treat him better now that he’s not wearing red?

“I hope so,” he said with a laugh. “We’ll see.”

Theriot said he was looking forward to greeting Darwin Barney, whom he said “hasn’t made an error in seven years.” Actually, Barney's NL single season record streak of error-free games is at 115 games.

“I’m going to mess with him today, see if I can jinx him,” Theriot said. “He’s playing great. Darwin is an awesome dude.”

Theriot, hitting .263 with 27 RBIs, is starting at second today and batting second behind another ex-Cub, Angel Pagan. Theriot said he wasn’t stung by the booing he received at Wrigley last year, but it was quite obvious he didn’t enjoy being a “villain” in a ballpark where he was once a very popular player with a made-for-baseball nickname, “The Riot.”

Theriot has made quite a career for himself, despite doubts early in his career as a shortstop that he would play long. He’s won a world championship ring with the Cardinals, and could be heading back to the postseason again with the Giants.

“I’ve been fortunate to be on some really good teams, have some success, win a World Series, win some divisions, been to the playoffs three times,” he said. “You couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Alfonso Soriano said a few weeks ago he wouldn’t approve a trade to San Francisco because of the weather, though Theriot said the weather is just something you get accustomed to playing in.

“You rarely find yourself sweating during a game,” he said. “There is a chill in the air. It’s windy, it’s a challenge, something you have to get used to. It’s a big ballpark, and in the NL West, pitching is pretty dang good, too.

“From a hitter’s standpoint, there are a lot of things that are stacked up against you when you go out there. But you do get used to it. We all saw what Barry (Bonds) did for so long out there, so it is possible to hit homers there.”